‘Funky Fish & Friends’ opens on Main Street

May 21, 2010|By Lorene ParshallStaff Writer

This 6-inch Motoro stingray will eventually grow to a foot and a half long. It is for display, not sale, at the store.

GAYLORD — A new store, “Funky Fish and Friends,” has opened at 128 W. Main St. in downtown Gaylord. The hundred species of exotic tropical fish the store offers are funky, but some of their friends are even funkier.

The 5- to 6-inch Motoro stingrays, now on display, are not for sale because they will eventually grow to a foot and a half in length. The Reticulated sting rays soon to be offered for sale will grow to only a foot in size. Both rays are South American in origin.

Along with the sting rays are exotic creatures such as chameleons that assume strange positions and change color to blend into whatever environment they’re placed. There are small, adorable, but extremely shy geckos, unique among lizards in the chirping sounds they make when they socialize with other geckos. Among the other reptiles are tree frogs and bearded dragons.

Steve and Megan Funk, owners of Funky Fish and Friends, moved here from Auburn Hills. Steve had previously lived in Hillman and Megan in Onaway.

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“We both really loved this area and we wanted to get back to Northern Michigan,” said Steve.

“Fish make really good pets,” he added, explaining why they’d chosen to open a tropical fish store. “They’re low maintenance — you can go away for a couple of days without any problem —and watching them relieves stress.

The store also will do special orders for fish and reptiles.

It will be open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. It will be closed Sundays and Mondays as the Funks plan to use that time to set up and maintain aquariums for local businesses.